This Friday, October 16, Paris Saint-Germain has a small occasion to celebrate as the team prepares for tomorrow’s trip to Strasbourg’s Stade de la Meinau, part of the 7th matchday of the 2026-2027 Ligue 1 season. It is the birthday of defender Willian Pacho, who turns 25 today.
Having arrived in 2024 from Eintracht Frankfurt—at which time he was largely unknown—Pacho did not take long to win everyone over. The defender quickly dispelled the doubts of even the most skeptical observers, establishing himself as one of the best in the world in his position. While attacking players naturally tend to receive the most attention, the Ecuadorian’s role in PSG’s successes should not be overlooked.
Although his start to the current season has been slightly less impressive, there is no cause for concern regarding a player who has been a reliable, high-level performer for the past two years. Pacho remains a defender who wins nearly all of his duels in the Champions League, all while avoiding a single yellow card. There is little doubt that he will return to his best—he already showed signs of better form this past Wednesday against Manchester City (a 4-2 victory on the second matchday of the Champions League). In the meantime, we wish him a very happy birthday.
